An automated method for dispensing pharmaceuticals particularly tablets and capsules, and other small discrete objects, includes: receiving prescription information, selecting a container, labeling the container, dispensing the tablets or capsules into the labeled container, applying a closure to the filled, labeled container, and offloading the container to a designated location. Preferably, the tablets are dispensed with high speed dispensing bins that employ forced air to agitate and singulate the tablets. The other functions within the system are typically carried out at stations designed to offer speed, flexibility and precision to the dispensing operation.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. An apparatus for dispensing containers, comprising: a rotatable mounting platform with a plurality of apertures; a plurality of dispensing tubes mounted in a generally vertical disposition on the mounting platform and configured to receive a plurality of containers in vertically stacked relationship, each dispensing tube being positioned above a respective aperture and rotatable with the mounting platform; a rotary drive unit connected with the mounting platform that rotates the mounting platform; a sorting member positioned below the mounting platform and fixed relative thereto, the sorting member having an aperture positioned such that, as the mounting platform is rotated, the mounting platform apertures pass over the sorting member aperture; and a receiving member pivotally interconnected with the sorting member, the receiving member being pivotable between a receiving position, in which the receiving member is positioned below the sorting member aperture to receive a container from one of the plurality of dispensing tubes, and a donating position, in which the receiving member extends away from the sorting member to present a container to a grasping apparatus.
2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 , wherein the receiving member includes a support finger that is positioned beneath the sorting member aperture when the receiving member is in the donating position.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
December 21, 2004
December 13, 2005
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